Clean, green and ready to run

In the middle of bustling Manila, where jeepneys and 40-foot container vans streak and thunder by in urban haste, is a little pocket of lush greenery that is called the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion. On what is officially the Teodoro F. Valencia Circle in Rizal Park, right next to the imposing former Finance Building that is now the impressive National Museum of the Filipino People, this little garden is a real haven featuring, as its name suggests, a collection of orchids and a collection of butterflies, friendly critters who do not hesitate to perch on your head or shoulder. In addition, there is a mini rain forest (really mini, but for urban dwellers who’ve never been near one, it is a chance to experience the very different world of a forest), a palm garden (where you can see a real sugar palm or kaong, and it looks nothing like the bottle from which we usually get kaong for halo-halo), waterfalls and a wall for rock climbing. There too is a little restaurant appropriately called Lush Life, which serves refreshing garden-type food like fruit shakes and crisp salads, but also "real food" like pastas and more substantial entrees.

There I was invited recently to lunch for a month-late surprise celebration of the birthday of the lady most resonsible for the existence and maintenance of this lovely garden–former First Lady/Clean & Green Foundation (c&gfi) chair Ming Ramos, whose commitment to the cause of the environment began long before she became First Lady and thankfully continues apres Malacañang, which is why the c&gfi and its Pasig River projects are still going strong, despite changes of occupants at the Palace by the Pasig.

Corporate suits invaded this garden setting that day, as representatives of the uppity Management Association of the Philippines (map) came to sign an agreement with the c&gfi to promote its national ecolabelling program Green Choice-Philippines. The "suits" who showed their green side were none other than new map president Dave Balangue of SGV, environment committee co-chairs Cora Claudio (an avid eco-photographer) and Tony Aquino of Manila Water, and governor-in-charge Bal Endriga of UE. The corporate clout of the map will hopefully mean a big boost for the eco-programs of the c&gfi, which is still championing the revival of the Pasig River.

Another agreement signed that day extended for another ten years the partnership between the c&gfi and the National Parks Development Committee in the management and operation of the Orchidarium. Upon hearing that parks committee executive director Jaime Recio is a sharp shooter and SEA Games gold medalist, Mrs. Ramos quipped, "Can you shoot some people for me?" Fortunately I did not hear the rest of that conversation, or I might be accused of aiding and abetting.

The lunch was most cordial and thick with banter among friends, the conversation not limited to environmental issues alone. A two-tiered (one tier was, admitted c&gfi executive director Ime Sarmiento, made of ecologically unfriendly styrofoam), floral-themed birthday cake had two candles for the celebrator to wish upon and blow, after which she volunteered to play the piano for us–"whether you like it or not". Of course we did, and made her play an encore besides, the jazz that she does so well jamming with her Executive Band. Then she promised to play at a fund-raising concert for the c&gfi, together with Ime, a classical pianist.

There will be, at the end of the month, on the day of the leap year, the Pasig River Heritage Marathon, a 42-kilometer run that will cross the 12 bridges spanning the Pasig River. This race, now on its fourth year, draws serious local and international long distance runners. For those with shorter strides, there are 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs, plus a 3-kilometer run for kids.

The challenge to the ladies at our table to join the race was met with characterisic aplomb. Never ones to say never, we decided to run the race communally–we would get 42 people to each run a kilometer, together completing the race–hopefully within the five-hour curfew.

Committed to run a kilometer are my tablemates Odette Alcantara, Lyn Gamboa, Sylvia Montilla, Ambassador Lolita Haney, Linda Cruz, Tessa Jasmines and Ana Guerrero. I am putting their names in print so they don’t chicken out and withdraw. What we may lack in fitness and stamina we more than make up for in chutzpah and chic: Sylvia and Ana were already scrutinizing the prizes in store for the top finishers, and Lyn already has her running outfit all planned out. Now that’s the spirit–I just hope the flesh is as willing.